. >> reporter: later on the trail in detroit vice president biden specifically called out reporters to make sure they heard his answer to the question. >> folks, let me make something clear and say it to the press. america is better off today than they left us. you want to know whether we're better off? i got a little bumper sticker for you. osama bin laden is dead and general motors is alive! >> reporter: all of this as a new poll today showed romney with a four-point lead in the state that the president turned blue four ars ago. the task for this convention week according to campaign aides is to paint where the country is today versus where it had been when george bush left office. highlighting the decisions president obama made on issues like health care and the auto bail out. the first key messenger michelle obama checked out the arena this afternoon in advance of her speech tomorrow night. other key speakers include san antonio's mayor castro, massachusetts candidate elizabeth warren and former president bill clinton. all have their remarks aimed at key democratic constituencies.